Flat Filter Element, Filter Housing and Air Filter

ABSTRACT

A flat filter element has a filter medium and a sealing section that seals the flat filter element relative to a filter housing. A support element section is arranged on a circumferential side of the filter medium outside of the sealing section and supports the flat filter element relative to an inner side of the filter housing, wherein the support element section projects past the filter element in at least one direction. The filter housing has a mounting opening through which the flat filter element is inserted into the interior where the flat filter element is arranged such that the inlet is separated from the outlet of the filter housing. A projection arranged on an inner side of the filter housing supports under mechanical tension the support element section of the flat filter element in a mounting position of the flat filter element in the interior.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of internationalapplication No. PCT/EP2013/056004 having an international filing date of22 Mar. 2013 and designating the United States, the InternationalApplication claiming a priority date of 23 Mar. 2012, based on priorfiled German patent application No. 10 2012 005 734.2, the entirecontents of the aforesaid international application and the aforesaidGerman patent application being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a flat filter element, in particular of an airfilter, in particular of an internal combustion engine, in particular ofa motor vehicle, for insertion into a filter housing, comprising afilter medium and comprising a sealing section for a seal for sealingthe flat filter element relative to the filter housing.

Moreover, the invention concerns a filter housing of an air filter, inparticular of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motorvehicle, comprising at least one inlet for air to be purified and atleast one outlet for purified air, comprising an interior in which aflat filter element, in particular a flat filter element according tothe invention, can be arranged in such a way that it separates the atleast one inlet from the at least one outlet, comprising a mountingopening through which the flat filter element can be inserted into theinterior.

Moreover, the invention concerns an air filter with a filter housing, inparticular a filter housing according to the invention, and a flatfilter element, in particular a flat filter element according to theinvention.

Flat filter elements for air filters are known on the market; they canbe exchangeably inserted into a filter housing. Between an inflow sideof the flat filter element which forms the raw air side, and an outflowside which forms the clean air side, the flat filter element comprises asealing section for a seal for sealing the flat filter element relativeto the filter housing. The seal is attached to the sealing section andis inserted together with the flat filter element into the filterhousing. The flat filter element is arranged in such a way in the filterhousing that it separates an inlet of the filter housing from an outletfor the air. The filter housing has a mounting opening through which theflat filter element can be inserted into the filter housing.

In a flat filter element in the meaning of the invention the filtermedium is open, i.e., is not formed to a closed circumferential wallwhich surrounds an interior. In a folded filter medium this means thatthe end face folds as well as the end face edges are not connected toeach other. Flat filter elements can be planar but can also have bendsin various directions. In contrast to a flat filter element, in a roundfilter element the filter medium is closed, i.e., its end faces, in caseof a folded filter element its end face folds, are connected to eachother.

The invention has the object to design a flat filter element, a filterhousing of an air filter, and an air filter of the aforementioned kindwith which a simple, stable, and reliable mounting of the flat filterelement in the filter housing is possible. Mounting of the flat filterelement should be low in wear as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is solved according to the invention in that on at least onecircumferential side of the filter medium outside of the sealing sectionat least one support element section for supporting the flat filterelement relative to at least one inner side of the filter housing isarranged and the at least one support element section projects past thefilter medium in at least one direction.

According to the invention, at least one support element section is thusprovided which in addition to the seal of the flat filter element can besupported on an inner side of the filter housing. In this way, the flatfilter element can be supported at least at two locations, i.e., at thelocation of the seal and at the location of the at least one supportelement section, and secured in the interior of the filter housing. Theat least one support element section projects past the filter medium inat least one direction. It is arranged between the filter medium and theinner side of the filter housing in this way and holds the filter mediumat a spacing to the filter housing. It is also possible to provide morethan one support element section so that the filter medium can besupported at several locations relative to the inner side of the filterhousing. In this way, positioning of the flat filter element in thefilter housing can be further improved. The at least one support elementsection can be designed such that it can compensate component-relatedand/or mounting-related tolerances between the flat filter element andthe filter housing. In addition or as an alternative, the at least onesupport element section can be embodied such that it can guide the flatfilter element upon insertion into the filter housing along ahousing-associated guide path, in particular a guide groove or a guiderail. It can thus additionally act as a guide element. In addition or asan alternative, the support element section can be designed such that itcan effect a damping action in particular of vibrations between thefilter housing and the filter medium. In this way, the filter housingcan be vibration-decoupled from the flat filter element. The mechanicalload on the filter medium can thus be reduced. The susceptibility tofailure can thus be reduced. In this way, also the service life of theflat filter element can be extended.

A seal can be arranged on the flat filter element. The seal canadvantageously be connected by foaming of polyurethane foam to thesealing section. As an alternative, the seal can be pre-manufactured asa shaped part, in particular of rubber, and can be mounted on thesealing section, in particular pushed on or inserted. Alternatively, oradditionally, a seal can also be mounted on the filter housing,preferably fastened. In this case, it is not required that the flatfilter element itself is provided with its own seal.

Also, more than one support element section can be provided. At leasttwo of the support element sections can be arranged on a common supportelement. Between the support element sections support gaps can beprovided so that no continuous support on the inner side is realized.This differentiates the support action of the support element sectionsaccording to the invention from the support action of a seal which iscontinuous. In this way, the installation of the flat filter element canbe simplified. As a whole, it is not required that the at least onesupport element section fulfills a sealing function. The at least onesupport element section can be optimized with regard to its effect forsupporting and/or positioning and/or damping and/or holding.Advantageously, the at least one support element section can be made ofplastic material. It can thus be manufactured easily. The at least onesupport element section can thus be provided with minimal weight. Also,complex shapes can be realized with plastic material. The flat filterelement can advantageously be exchangeably arranged in the filterhousing.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least two support element sections canbe supported at least in opposite directions at corresponding supportareas on inner sides of the filter housing. In this way, the filtermedium can be supported in opposite directions and held stably in thisway. The filter medium can thus be clamped between the support areas ofthe filter housing. Advantageously, the at least two support elementsections can project past opposite circumferential sides of the filtermedium. The at least two support element sections can project also pastthe same circumferential side of the filter medium. The supportdirection can then extend parallel to the circumferential side whereinthe support directions of the two support element sections can beoppositely oriented. In particular, the support element sections can belocated on opposite sides of a single support element which can bearranged on the circumferential side of the filter medium. At least oneof the support element sections can be realized also such that it canabsorb, in addition to force components in opposite directions, alsoforce components transverse to these directions.

Advantageously, between the at least two support element sections asupport gap may exist. In the support gap no support of the flat filterelement relative to the inner side of the filter housing is realized. Inthis way, the size of the support element sections can be reduced.Accordingly, the space requirement of the support element sections canbe reduced. Moreover, the material demand for the support elementsections can be reduced. Also, the freedom in shaping the filterhousing, in particular the inner sides of the filter housing, and/or thesupport element sections can be increased. It is not required that theshapes of the inner side of the filter housing and the shapes of thesupport element sections are matched continuously relative to eachother. The support element sections can thus be arranged in such a wayon the circumferential side of the flat filter element that they candevelop an optimal supporting action. Moreover, in case of supportelement sections that are separate from each other, an insertion processof the flat filter element into the filter housing can be simplified. Aforce expenditure upon insertion of the flat filter element can bereduced. Advantageously, at least one guide groove or guide rail can bearranged on the inner side of the filter housing with which the at leastone support element section can be guided upon insertion of the flatfilter element.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one support elementsection can be attached to a carrier element and the carrier element canbe attached to at least one side of the filter medium. Advantageously,the carrier element can be a carrier plate with which an arealconnection to the filter medium is possible. In this way, the forcetransmission between the carrier plate and the filter medium can beimproved. The carrier element and the at least one support elementsection can thus be pre-manufactured in a simple way. They can beconnected as a common component to the filter medium. The carrierelement and the at least one support element section can be realized asa modular component. The carrier element and the at least one supportelement section can be realized advantageously as a two component part.Advantageously, the carrier element can be made of a hard stablematerial. In this way, force transmission between the at least onesupport element section and the filter medium can be improved. Moreover,the filter medium can be reinforced with a stable carrier element.Deformations of the filter medium, in particular by vibrations, can thusbe reduced. This has a beneficial effect, in particular for a foldedfilter medium, in regard to shape stability of the flat filter element.

Advantageously, at least two support element sections can be attached toa common carrier element. In this way, the carrier element can form aforce connection between the at least two support element sections. Incase that the two support elements are supported in opposite directionson the filter housing, a force action onto the filter medium as a resultof the supporting action on the filter housing can thus be avoided. Thecarrier element can be fastened immediately on the filter medium.Alternatively, the carrier element can also be connected indirectly, inparticular by means of a connecting element, preferably a lateral stripor a frame, to the filter medium. The carrier element can be connectedwith the filter medium by means of an adhesive connection, a weldconnection or a mechanical connection, in particular a clip-onconnection, a clamping connection, a snap-on connection, a plug-inconnection or a screw connection. The carrier element can be designedsuch that it can additionally seal the side of the filter medium. Thecarrier element can also be free of any sealing function. In this way,the carrier element can be optimized with regard to its mechanicalproperties, in particular its carrying function and stabilizingfunction. Advantageously, the carrier element can extend across theentire side of the filter medium. In the this way, the stability of theflat filter element can be improved. Alternatively, the carrier elementmay also cover only a part of the side of the filter medium. In thisway, material and weight can be saved. The carrier element canadvantageously be made of plastic material. It can thus be manufacturedin a simple way and complexly shaped. By use of plastic material, theweight of the carrier element can be reduced. The carrier element canalso have the shape of a frame which at least partially can frame thefilter medium.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one support elementsection, optionally the carrier element, can be attached by a lateralstrip to at least one side of the filter medium. With the lateral stripa tolerance between the at least one support element section or thecarrier element and the filter medium can be compensated in a simpleway. With the lateral strip unevenness of the filter medium, inparticular in case of a folded filter medium, can be simply compensated.The lateral strip can be advantageously flexible. The lateral strip canadditionally act as a damping element between the filter medium and theat least one support element section. In this way, transmission ofvibrations from the filter housing onto the filter medium can be furtherreduced. The lateral strip can be simply cut to length, in particular bycutting, in order to match it to the dimensions of the filter medium.The lateral strip can project past the side of the filter medium atleast at one edge. It can be folded or bent easily at the at least oneedge of the side of the filter medium. The lateral strip can be extendedclose to the sealing section for the seal and/or can be extended intoit. It can overlap the sealing section and thus also the seal.

By use of the lateral strip for attachment of the carrier element thesealing function and the holding function can be separated from eachother. The lateral strip can be optimized with respect to the sealingfunction for sealing the lateral side of the filter medium. The at leastone support element section, optionally together with the carrierelement, can be optimized with respect to the holding function. Thelateral strip can be optimized with respect to the sealing function. Itcan be realized with a thickness that, relative to its areal extension,is relatively minimal and can therefore be arranged in a space-savingway between the filter medium and the at least one support elementsection, respectively, the carrier element.

Advantageously, the lateral strip can be a nonwoven. Preferably, thelateral strip can be made of a nonwoven. A nonwoven can combine a greattearing resistance with a high flexibility. A nonwoven can also bestretchable. A nonwoven moreover can be seal-tight for the fluid to befiltered by the flat filter element so that the side of the filtermedium can be effectively sealed with it. A nonwoven can moreover beadjusted simply in regard to its shape, in particular cut, in order tomatch it to the dimensions of the side of the filter medium.

Advantageously, the at least one support element section relative to thefilter medium can be elastically movable and/or deformable at leasttransverse to an insertion direction of the flat filter element into thefilter housing. Due to the elasticity, the damping function can beimproved. Moreover, a tolerance compensation between the flat filterelement and the filter housing can be simply realized in this way. Theat least one support element section upon insertion of the flat filterelement into the filter housing can elastically yield so that the flatfilter element can also pass constrictions and/or projections within thefilter housing. In the correct mounting position of the flat filterelement, the at least one support element section can support the flatfilter element elastically with a mechanical tension relative to theinner side of the filter housing. The at least one support elementsection can be of an elastic material. Advantageously, the at least onesupport element section can be of a soft component, in particular arubber-like plastic material. Alternatively or additionally, the atleast one support element section can be connected by a connecting meansindirectly, in particular by means of a carrier element and/or a lateralstrip, or immediately elastically with the filter medium. The connectingmeans can be a spring element. However, the connecting means can also beelastically changeable and/or deformable in other ways.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the filter medium can be connectedat one side with the seal for sealing the flat filter element relativeto the filter housing and the at least one support element section canbe arranged on a side of the filter medium which is facing away from theseal. In this way, the flat filter element can be supported and held inthe correct mounting position within the filter housing at locationsthat are spaced apart from each other. In this way, a leverage action onthe seal by the weight of the filter medium can be reduced. This isadvantageous when the flat filter element is arranged horizontally inthe operational position and is attached by means of the seal, viewed inhorizontal direction, at one side on the filter housing. The flat filterelement, viewed in horizontal direction, can then be additionallysupported in the housing on the side opposite the seal. Advantageously,for the horizontal arrangement of the flat filter element, the at leastone support element section can provide support spatially in downwarddirection relative to the filter housing.

Advantageously, the filter medium can be folded in a zigzag shape. Witha filter medium that is folded in a zigzag shape, a great ratio betweeneffective filter surface and required mounting space can be realized.

The technical object is further solved by the filter housing accordingto the invention in that on the at least one inner side of the filterhousing at least one projection is arranged on which the support elementsection of the flat filter element in a mounting position of the flatfilter element can be supported under mechanical tension. All advantagesand features that have been discussed above in connection with the flatfilter element according to the invention apply likewise to the filterhousing according to the invention. According to the invention, thefilter housing comprises thus a mechanical counter bearing in the formof a projection on which, in the correct mounting position of the flatfilter element, the at least one support element section can besupported. The projection enables therefore an improvement of thesupporting action. In this way, a damping action of the support elementsection can be further improved. Moreover, with the projection animproved point of attack for a force transmission onto the supportelement section can be realized. Advantageously, in an area of thefilter housing in front of the at least one projection in the insertiondirection of the flat filter element, a housing-associated guide means,in particular a guide groove or a guide rail, may be realized alongwhich the at least one support element section can be guided duringinsertion. Upon reaching the projection, a holding force between theprojection and the support element section can be realized whichcontributes to holding, in particular clamping, of the flat filterelement in the filter housing in the correct mounting position. Themechanical tension may be caused in this context by an elasticdeformation and/or displacement of the at least one support elementsection. Advantageously, the mounting opening for the flat filterelement can at least partially form an inlet opening for the air to bepurified. Alternatively, the mounting opening can at least partiallyform an outlet opening for the purified air. A separate mounting openingis thus obsolete.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least two projections can be arrangedon opposite sides of the interior between which two correspondingsupport element sections can be supported at least in oppositedirections. Accordingly, the flat filter element can be clamped betweenthe projections on opposite sides. The flat filter element can thus beheld and supported by means of the support element sections and theoppositely positioned projections optimally between the inner sides inthe interior of the filter housing. The flat filter element can thus bepositioned and held on the two opposite sides at a spacing to the innersides of the filter housing, respectively.

Advantageously, on at least one inner side of the filter housing atleast one guide web can be arranged which can extend in the insertiondirection of the flat filter element and whose top side that is facingthe flat filter element can extend, in the insertion direction, firstaway from the corresponding inner side and, after a bend, in front ofthe at least one projection, can extend toward the inner side.Advantageously, the filter medium upon insertion can be resting on theguide web. Along the curved top side of the guide web the flat filterelement can be moved on a curved path upon insertion into the filterhousing. In this way, positioning of the at least one support elementsection on the corresponding projection can be simplified. The at leastone guide web can be positioned advantageously spatially at the bottomfor a horizontal insertion direction. In this way, the flat filterelement can rest on the guide web upon insertion.

The technical object is further solved by the air filter according tothe invention. The advantages and features discussed above in connectionwith the flat filter element according to the invention and the filterhousing according to the invention apply likewise to the air filteraccording to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention result fromthe following description in which an embodiment of the invention willbe explained in more detail with the aid of the drawing. A person ofskill in the art will consider the features disclosed in combination inthe drawing, the description, and the claims also individually andcombine them to other meaningful further combinations.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric illustration of an air filter of an internalcombustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising an air filter housingin which a flat filter element is arranged.

FIG. 2 shows the air filter of FIG. 1 wherein a housing top part of theair filter housing is removed.

FIG. 3 shows the open air filter of FIG. 2 in another perspective view.

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the air filter of FIGS. 1to 3.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the air filter of FIGS. 1to 4 through a section plane perpendicular to the section plane of thevertical longitudinal section of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a first vertical cross-section of the air filter of FIGS. 1 to5.

FIG. 7 is a second vertical cross-section of the air filter of FIGS. 1through 6 in a section plane that is parallel to the section plane ofthe cross-section of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a third vertical cross-section of the air filter of FIGS. 1 to7 in a section plane that is parallel to the section planes of thevertical cross-sections of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is an isometric illustration of the flat filter element with ahousing cover of the air filter housing of the air filter of FIGS. 1 to8.

FIG. 10 is an isometric illustration of the flat filter element of theair filter of FIGS. 1 to 9 without housing cover.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the flat filter element of the air filter ofFIGS. 1 to 10.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal side view of the flat filter element of theair filter of FIGS. 1 to 11.

In the Figures, same components are identified with same referencecharacters.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 to 8, an air filter 10 of an internal combustion engine, notshown otherwise, of a motor vehicle with an exchangeable flat filterelement 12 is illustrated in various perspective views and sectionviews. The flat filter element 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12 indetail in various perspective views.

The air filter 10 is arranged in an intake manifold, not shownotherwise, of the internal combustion engine. It serves for purifyingintake air. The air filter 10 comprises a filter housing 14 which isassembled of a housing bottom part 16 and a housing top part 18 as wellas a housing cover 20. The housing bottom part 16, the housing top part18, and the housing cover 20 are each made of a hard plastic material.In the normal mounted state of the air filter 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1to 8, in which the flat filter element 12 is horizontally arranged, thehousing bottom part 16 is arranged spatially at the bottom and thehousing part 18 at the top. The designations “horizontal” and “vertical”relate to the filter 10 in its normal mounted state in space. Uponappropriate rotation and/or tilting of the filter 10, the orientations“horizontal” and “vertical” will change accordingly.

The housing bottom part 16 comprises an approximately parallelepipedaltub which is slanted at a closed end face and is provided with amounting opening 22 at the opposite end face. The mounting opening 22 isillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The mounting opening 22 is surrounded by amounting frame 24 which is part of the housing bottom part 16. Themounting frame 24 is closed circumferentially. A free edge of themounting frame 24 forms a sealing edge 26 on which, when the flat filterelement 12 is installed, an approximately circumferentially closedrectangular seal 28 is resting. The seal 28 has an approximatelyU-shaped profile. The sealing rim 26 and the seal 28 are shown interalia in FIGS. 4 and 5. The mounting opening 22 has an approximatelyrectangular cross-section.

A threaded bushing 30 is formed monolithically on the radial outercircumferential side of the mounting frame 24 at its corners,respectively. The threaded bushing 30 serves for receiving screws 32with which the housing cover 20 can be connected detachably to thehousing bottom part 16.

A total of four angled fastening members 34 are monolithically attachedon the exterior of the housing bottom part 16 on the bottom side whichis facing away from the housing top part 18. The angled fasteningmembers 34 serve for attachment of the air filter 10, for example, on aframe of the internal combustion engine.

An interior 36 of the filter housing 14 is divided into an element spacesection 38 and a deflection space section 40. In the element spacesection 38 a filter medium 42 of the flat filter element 12 is arranged.The element space section 38 adjoins directly the mounting opening 22.In the deflection space section 40 there are two curved deflection walls44 which are attached monolithically to a bottom 45 of the housingbottom part 16. The deflection walls 44 extend perpendicularly to thebottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16. The deflection walls 44 servefor deflecting an air stream from the outflow side of the filter medium42, which forms its clean air side 46, by almost 90 degrees in thedirection to a sidewall 48 of the housing bottom part 16.

A circumferential rim 50 on the free side of the housing bottom part 16which is facing the housing top part 18 is bent in radial directionoutwardly. At the side of the sidewall 48 in the area of the elementspace section 38, the rim 50 extends, when viewed from the mountingframe 24, at a slant toward the bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16.In the area of the transition of the element space section 38 to thedeflection space section 40, the rim 50 has a slanted step toward thebottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16. The height of the sidewall 48thus decreases significantly here. The rim 50 extends approximately atthe same height about the deflection space section 40 and along asidewall 52 opposite the sidewall 48 to a location close to the mountingframe 24. In the area of the mounting frame 24, the rim 50 has a slantedstep away from the bottom 45 and passes into an upper rim section of themounting frame 24 which is facing away from the bottom 45.

In the area of the mounting frame 24 the sidewalls 48 and 52 are eachrecessed toward the element space section 38 so that here a frontlateral projection 54 into the interior 36 is provided. The frontlateral projections 54 each extend across the entire extension of thesidewalls 48 and 52 from the bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16 tothe rim 50. The rim 50 is not provided with such recesses. The frontlateral projections 54 extend in the normal mounting position of the airfilter 10 in vertical direction. The front lateral projections 54 arepositioned opposite each other.

Within the element space section 38 in the area of the transition intothe deflection space section 40, the sidewalls 48 and 52 are recessedtoward the interior 36 to corresponding rear lateral projections 56. Thetwo rear projections 56 are positioned also opposite each other.

The bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16 in the area of the mountingframe 24 is recessed inwardly toward the interior 36 so that here afront lower projection 58 is provided. The front lower projection 58passes at its ends into one of the front lateral projections 54,respectively.

The upper rim section of the mounting frame 24 which is facing away fromthe bottom 45 has a front upper projection 60 in the form of an inwardrecess. The front upper projection 60 is arranged opposite to the frontlower projection 58.

In addition to the rear lateral projections 56, the bottom 45 of thehousing bottom part 16 is recessed toward the interior 36 to a rearlower projection 62, respectively.

Moreover, at the bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16 two guide webs64 are integrally formed. The guide webs 64 project into the interior36. They extend in the element space section 38 parallel to each otherfrom the mounting frame 24 up to the deflection space section 40. Thetop sides 66 of the guide webs 64 which are facing the housing top part18 are located at the same height. Viewed from the mounting frame 24 inan installation direction 116 of the flat filter element 12 into thefilter housing 14, the top sides 66 rise first away from the bottom 45toward the housing top part 18 in the normal mounted state of the airfilter 10. In front of the rear lateral projections 56 and the rearlower projections 62, the top sides 66 descend, adjacent to a bend,toward the bottom 45. The guide webs 64 are illustrated in the FIGS. 6and 7. The guide webs 64 serve as guide ramps for the flat filterelement 12 upon insertion into the filter housing 14.

The bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16 is provided with profiles 65for stabilization which extend parallel to each other and parallel tothe guide webs 64 through the interior 36 away from the mounting frame24.

In the area of the element space section 38, the housing top part 18 hasa lower height than the housing bottom part 16. At the side of thesidewall 48 the vertical extension of the housing bottom part 18 issignificantly less compared to the sidewall 48. At the side of thesidewall 52, the vertical extension of the sidewall 69 of the housingtop part 18 is approximately as large as the vertical extension of thesidewall 52.

A rim 68 of the housing top part 18 is resting circumferentially closedon the rim 50 of the housing bottom part 16. The rim 68 of the housingtop part 18 is welded seal-tightly to the rim 50 of the housing bottompart 16.

The sidewall 69 of the housing top part 18 comprises a rear lateralprojection 70 into the interior 36, shown in FIG. 7, which, when thefilter housing 14 is assembled, is aligned with the rear lateralprojection 56 of the sidewall 52 of the housing bottom part 16.

A cover wall 72 of the housing top part 18 which is positioned oppositethe bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16 rises from the sidewall 69toward the opposite side. The element space section 38 widens from thesidewalls 52 and 69 toward the sidewall 48 in vertical direction. At theend of the element space section 38 at the level of the rear lowerprojection 62 of the housing bottom part 16, the cover wall 72 isrecessed toward the rear upper projections 74 into the interior 36. Therear upper projections 74 are located in the normal mounting position ofthe air filter 10, viewed in horizontal direction, on opposite sidesadjacent to the rim 68. The rear upper projections 74 are positioned,viewed in vertical direction, opposite one of the rear lower projections62 of the housing bottom part 16, respectively.

In the area of the deflection space section 40, the cover wall 72 passesinto an outlet flange section 76. The outlet flange section 76 forms adome-like expansion for the deflection space section 40. The deflectionwalls 44 extend up to the inner side of the connecting flange section 76which is facing the bottom 45 of the housing bottom part 16. On its sidewhich is facing the sidewall 48 of the housing bottom part 16, theoutlet flange section 76 has a connecting flange 80 with an outletopening 78 for purified air.

The housing cover 20 is a frame whose circumferential wall is steppedmultiple times. The housing cover 20 is open at the side which is facingthe mounting frame 24 and at the opposite side. The housing cover 20partially forms an inlet 84 of the air filter 10 for air to be purified.The openings and the interior of the housing cover 20 and the mountingopening 22 form an inlet opening of the inlet 84. A sealing rim 82 ofthe housing cover 20 which is facing the mounting frame 24 fits thesealing rim 26 of the mounting frame 24. The sealing rim 82 of thehousing cover 20 has at the radial inner circumferential side a step inoutward direction in which the seal 28 is arranged when the air filter10 is assembled. An inner cross-section of the housing cover 20 tapersfrom the sealing rim 82 to a free rim facing away from the sealing rim82.

In the following, the flat filter element 12 will be explained with theaid of FIGS. 10 to 12. The flat filter element 12 comprises a filterbellows 86 of a filter medium 42 folded in a zigzag shape. An imaginaryenvelope of the filter bellows 86 is approximately of parallelepipedalshape. The filter bellows 86 has a raw air side 90, in FIGS. 9 and 10 tothe left and the rear and in FIGS. 11 and 12 to the left; a clean airside 46, in FIGS. 9 and 10 to the right and at the front and in FIGS. 11and 12 to the right; two end faces 92, in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12 at the topand at the bottom; and two end face edges 94, in FIGS. 9 and 10 at thefront to the left, respectively, at the rear to the right, and in FIG.11 at the top and at the bottom. The filter bellows 86 is open at itsend face folds 96 and end face edges 94, meaning that neither the endface folds 96 nor the end face edges 94 are connected to each other. Thefilter bellows 86 can therefore be referred to as “flat”. The end facefolds 96 are the two outer folds at the end faces 92 of the filterbellows 86. They extend parallel to the fold edges 98 along which thefilter medium 42 is folded. The end face edges 94 have each thezigzag-shaped course of folds 104 of the filter bellows 86.

The flow-through direction 100 of the air to be filtered through theflat filter element 12 from the raw air side 90 to the clean air side 46is indicated in FIGS. 2 to 8 by an arrow, respectively. The fold edges98 extend perpendicularly to the flow-through direction 100. Moreover,the fold edges 98 are positioned perpendicular to the end face edges 94and thus to the planes that are defined by the end face edges 94. Theplanes that are defined by the end face edges 94, respectively, extendparallel to each other and to the flow-through direction 100. They areperpendicular to the end faces 92. In the normal mounted state of thefilter 10, the fold edges 98, the flow-through direction 100, and theend faces 92 extend horizontally; the planes that are defined by the endface edges 94 are extending vertical. The seal 28 is in a verticalorientation.

At the raw air side 90 the filter bellows 86 is framed in therectangular seal 28 in a frame-like manner. The seal 28 projects pastthe filter bellows 86 at its end faces 92 and end face edges 94. Theseal 28 is foamed of polyurethane foam onto the filter bellows 86 in aseal-tight manner. The opening of the U-shape profile of the seal 28points toward the clean air side 46.

On the clean air side 46 of the filter medium 72, six support glue beads102 extend perpendicular to the fold edges 98, respectively. The supportglue beads 100 connect neighboring folds 104, respectively, andstabilize in this way the filter bellows 86.

A rectangular lateral strip 106 of nonwoven material is glued onto theend face edges 94, respectively. The lateral strips 106 are flexible.The lateral strips 106 close seal-tightly the sides of the filterbellows 86 at the end face edges 94. The lateral strips 106 project pastthe filter bellows 86 at the end faces 92 and at the fold edges 98. Atthe raw air side 90 the lateral strips 106 are enclosed by the seal 28.A section of the filter bellows 86 with the lateral strips 106 that isenclosed by the seal 28 forms a sealing section 108 of the flat filterelement 12.

A rectangular carrier plate 110 with two elongate support elements 112is glued, respectively, onto the exterior side of the lateral strips 106that are facing away from the filter medium 42. The lateral strips 106serves in this context as a flexible tolerance compensation between thecarrier plates 110 and the filter bellows 86. The carrier plates 110 aremade of a hard plastic material. The respective lateral strip 106projects past the carrier plates 110 on all sides. The support elements112 are located in the vicinity of the rim of the carrier plate 110 thatis facing the raw air side 90 and of the rim that is facing the cleanair side 46 on the exterior side that is facing away from the lateralstrip 106, respectively. The support elements 112 are made of softelastic plastic material. The carrier plates 110 are realized with thesupport elements 112 as two component parts.

The support elements 112 extend parallel to the planes that are definedby the end face edges 94 and perpendicular to an installation direction116 of the flat filter element 12, vertical in the normal mounted stateof the filter 12. The installation direction 116 extends in the presentembodiment in the flow-through direction 100 of the flat filter element12. The support elements 112 project past the carrier plates 110 in thedirection of the fold edges 98 in outward direction, respectively.Moreover, the support element sections 114 of the support elements 112project past the carrier plates 110 on both sides at the end faces 92 ofthe filter bellows 86, respectively. The support element sections 114 ofthe support element 112, viewed perpendicular to the installationdirection 116, are positioned opposite each other. Also, each supportelement section 114 of one of the support elements 112 on an end faceedge side is positioned opposite a support element section 114 of asupport element 112 on the opposite end face edge side. Longitudinalaxes of the support elements 112 on opposite end face edge sides arelocated on an imaginary plane perpendicular to the installationdirection 116, respectively. Each support element section 114 has threesupport webs 117 which on the side opposite the filter element 42project outwardly in the direction of the fold edges 98. The areas ofthe support elements 112 between the support webs 117 of the two supportelement sections 114 act as support gaps 119 where no support relativeto the filter housing 14 is realized when the filter element 12 isinstalled.

Viewed in the installation direction 116, a spacing between the supportelement sections 114, respectively, the support elements 112 on the sameend face edge side of the filter bellows 86 corresponds to a spacingbetween the front lateral projections 54 and the rear lateralprojections 56 and 70, the front lower projection 58 and the rear lowerprojections 62, and the front upper projection 60 and the rear upperprojections 74. In the correct final mounting position of the flatfilter element 12 in the filter housing 14, one of the support elementsections 114 is supported on each one of the projections 54, 56, 58, 60,62, 70, and 74.

For installation of the flat filter element 12 in the filter housing 14,the filter bellows 86, with the end provided with the mounted seal 28leading, is inserted into the sealing rim 82 of the housing cover 20.The flat filter element 12 with the mounted housing cover 20 is shown inFIG. 9. Subsequently, the flat filter element 12, with the clean airside 46 leading, is inserted in the installation direction 116 throughthe mounting opening 22 of the mounting frame 24 of the housing bottompart 16 into the interior 36. The lower end face 92 of the filterbellows 86 which is facing the housing bottom part 16 is positioned inthis context on the top sides 66 of the guide webs 64 and is firsttilted upwardly and then tilted downwardly in the element space section38 along a curved path upon further insertion. In this context, theguide webs 64 assist in positioning the clean air side-associatedsupport element sections 114 on the respective rear projection 56, 62,70, and 74.

Upon insertion of the flat filter element 12, the elastic supportelement sections 114 yields and adjusts to the contours of the innersides of the filter housing 14. In the correct mounting position of theflat filter element 12, which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the supportelement sections 114 are resting on the appropriate projections 56, 58,60, 62, 70, and 74 with elastic mechanical tension. In this context,oppositely positioned support element sections 114 of the raw airside-associated support elements 112 are clamped between the front upperprojection 60 and the front lower projection 58. Oppositely positionedsupport element sections 114 of the clean air side-associated supportelements 112 are clamped between the respective rear lower projection 62and the corresponding rear upper projection 74. The forces that areproduced between the support element sections 114 are transmitted by thestiff carrier plates 110. Also, the two front support elements 112, inparticular the support webs 117, are clamped between the two frontlateral projections 54. The two rear support elements 112, in particularthe support webs 117, are clamped between the two rear lateralprojections 56 and 70, respectively.

In the correct mounting position, the sealing rim 82 of the housingcover 20 is resting seal-tightly on the sealing rim 26 of the mountingframe 24 with interposition of the seal 28.

For fixation of the flat filter element 12, the screws 82 are insertedthrough corresponding bushings 118 of the housing cover 20 and screwedinto the threaded bushings 30 of the mounting frame 24.

Upon installation of the flat filter element 12 into the filter housing14, a tolerance compensation is achieved with the elastic supportelement sections 114. Upon operation of the air filter 10, the elasticsupport element sections 114 act furthermore as damping elements andprotect in this way the filter bellows 86 from vibrations. By clampingof the support element sections 114 between the respective oppositeprojections 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 70, and 74, the flat filter element 12is secured in the element space section 38 of the interior 36. With theclean air side-associated lower support element sections 114 the flatfilter element 12 is supported on the rear lower projections 62. In thisway, mechanical loading of the seal 28 by a leverage action as a resultof the weight of the filter bellows 86 is prevented.

In the described embodiments, the support elements 112 and the supportelement sections 114 have no sealing function. A support action of theflat filter element 112 on the inner side of the filter housing 114 isachieved by means of the support element sections 114 at locations thatare separate from each other.

The following modifications are possible inter alia in the aforedescribed embodiment of an air filter 10, of a flat filter element 12,and of a filter housing 14.

The invention is also not limited to flat filter elements of air filtersof internal combustion engines. It can also be employed for differentkinds of flat filter elements for fluids of internal combustion engines,for example, oil, fuel or water. Also, it can be employed outside of thefield of internal combustion engines, for example, in buildingtechnology or water treatment. It can also be employed outside ofautomotive technology in other kinds of internal combustion engines, forexample, in industrial motors.

The air filter 10 can also be arranged in a different way in spacewherein the orientation of the components relative to each other doesnot change.

The filter housing 14 can also be comprised of more or fewer than threehousing parts. The housing bottom part 16 and the housing top part 18can also be realized as a monolithic housing part.

Folding of the filter bellows 86 can also be designed differently.Instead of extending horizontally, the fold edges 98 can also beextending vertically or at a slant.

Instead of the filter medium 42 folded in a zigzag shape, a differentkind of filter medium can be provided also. For example, a solidparallelepipedal filter medium, for example, a foam-like block can beused also. Instead of the rectangular filter bellows 86, a filterbellows may be used also whose sides extend at a slant relative to eachother. It is also possible to provide a filter bellows in which at leastone of the sides is not planar but has at least one bend.

Instead of the seal 28 of polyurethane foam, a different kind of seal,for example, a shaped seal, for example of rubber, can be also connectedseal-tightly to the folded filter bellows 86.

The seal 28, instead of being connected fixedly to the filter bellows86, can also be detachably pushed onto it. The seal 28 can also bearranged on the housing. It can be, for example, connected fixedly tothe filter housing 14. It can also be fixedly connected to the housingcover 20 or to the housing bottom part 16.

The seal 28 can also have a different profile instead of the U-shapeprofile. The rim 86 of the housing part 18, instead of being connectedby means of welding, can also be connected by means of a different typeof connection, for example, an adhesive connection, a snap-onconnection, a clamping connection or another type of screw connection,seal-tightly to the rim 50 of the housing bottom part 16.

It is also possible to have fewer or more than two support elements 112on an end face edge side of the filter bellows 86.

Instead of the elastic deformable support elements 112 also differentkinds, for example, also rigid, support elements 112 and support elementsections 114 can be provided which, for example, by means of an elasticconnection with the filter bellows 86, can be moved elastically relativeto the latter.

The support element sections 114 can also be designed such that theyproject only past the end face edge sides or only past the end faces 92of the filter bellows 86. Also, support element sections 114 can beprovided which project past the filter bellows 86 at the fold edges 98.The support elements 112 and the carrier plate 110, instead of beingprovided as a two component part, can also be connected to each other ina different way. For example, they can be glued together, welded,clipped on or connected to each other by another type of clampingconnection.

The support element sections 114 of a support element 112 can also bearranged obliquely opposite each other. In this case, also thecorresponding oppositely positioned upper and lower projections 58 and60 or 74 and 62 are arranged obliquely opposite to each other.

The support element sections 114, instead of being arranged in pairscontiguously on a support element 112, can also be arranged separatefrom each other on separate support elements 112.

The carrier plates 110 can also be attached directly to the fold edges98. In this case, the lateral strips 106 are obsolete.

The support plates 110, instead of being made of hard plastic material,can also be made of another, preferably hard, material.

Instead of the respective continuous carrier plates 110, two or moreseparate carrier plates 110 can be arranged also on the end face edgesides of the filter bellows 86. Each of the support elements 112 canthen be arranged on its own carrier plate.

The support elements 112, instead of being arranged on the carrier plate110, can also be attached to the respective lateral strip 106. Thecarrier plates 110 are then obsolete.

It is also possible to provide more or fewer than six support glue beads102. The support glue beads 102, instead of being on the clean air side46, can also be arranged on the raw air side 90. It is also possible toprovide support glue beads on the clean air side 46 as well as on theraw air side 90. It may be possible to eliminate the support glue beadsin certain circumstances.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will beunderstood that the invention may be embodied otherwise withoutdeparting from such principles.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flat filter element for insertion into a filterhousing, the flat filter element comprising: a filter medium; a sealingsection adapted to seal the flat filter element relative to a filterhousing; at least one support element section arranged on at least onecircumferential side of the filter medium outside of the sealing sectionand adapted to support the flat filter element relative to at least oneinner side of the filter housing, wherein the at least one supportelement section projects past the filter element in at least onedirection.
 2. The flat filter element according to claim 1, wherein atleast two of said at least one support element section are provided andsupported at least in opposite directions on support areas on the atleast one inner side of the filter housing.
 3. The flat filter elementaccording to claim 2, wherein a support gap exists between said at leasttwo support element sections.
 4. The flat filter element according toclaim 1, further comprising a carrier element attached to the at leastone circumferential side of the filter medium, wherein the at least onesupport element section is attached to the carrier element.
 5. The flatfilter element according to claim 4, further comprising a lateral strip,wherein the carrier element is attached by the lateral strip to the atleast one circumferential side of the filter medium.
 6. The flat filterelement according to claim 5, wherein the lateral strip comprises anonwoven.
 7. The flat filter element according to claim 1, furthercomprising a lateral strip attached to the at least one circumferentialside of the filter element, wherein the at least one support elementsection is attached to the lateral strip.
 8. The flat filter elementaccording to claim 7, wherein the lateral strip comprises a nonwoven. 9.The flat filter element according to claim 1, wherein the at least onesupport element section is elastically movable and/or deformablerelative to the filter medium at least transversely to an insertiondirection of the flat filter element into the filter housing.
 10. Theflat filter element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing sectioncomprises a seal that is connected to a first end of the filter mediumand seals the flat filter element relative to the filter housing,wherein the at least one support element section is arranged on a secondend of the filter medium that is facing away from the seal.
 11. The flatfilter element according to claim 1, wherein the filter medium is foldedin a zigzag shape.
 12. A filter housing of an air filter, the filterhousing comprising: at least one inlet for air to be purified; at leastone outlet for purified air; an interior adapted to receive a flatfilter element according to claim 1 such the at least one inlet isseparated from the at least one outlet by the flat filter element; amounting opening through which the flat filter element is insertableinto the interior; a projection arranged on an inner side of the filterhousing and adapted to support under mechanical tension a supportelement section of the flat filter element in a mounting position of theflat filter element in the interior.
 13. The filter housing according toclaim 12, wherein at least two of said projection are provided and arearranged on the first inner side and an oppositely positioned inner sideof the filter housing, respectively, wherein said at least twoprojections support between them two of said support element section ofthe flat filter element at least in opposite directions.
 14. The filterhousing according to claim 12, further comprising at least one guide webarranged on a second inner side of the filter housing, wherein the atleast one guide web extends in an insertion direction of the flat filterelement and comprises a top side facing the flat filter element, whereinthe top side first extends in the insertion direction away from thesecond inner side and, after a bend, descends in front of the projectiontoward the second inner side.
 15. An air filter comprising a filterhousing according to claim 12 and further comprising a flat filterelement according to claim 1.